The Rundown for July 26, 2019

SENATE INTEL COMMITTEE RELEASES RUSSIA REPORT… The Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday released its first report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The “Russian government directed extensive activity against U.S. election infrastructure,” according to committee chairman Richard Burr and Vice Chairman Mark Warner. The bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee found that Russians likely targeted election systems in all 50 states. Four more volumes of the report will follow.

SENATE GOP BLOCKS ELECTION-SECURITY BILLS… For the second time in 24 hours, Senate Republicans yesterday blocked the advancement of bills aimed at strengthening election security. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to House-passed legislation despite a warning by former special counsel Robert Mueller that foreign powers are interfering in U.S. elections. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi repeated GOP arguments that Congress has already responded to election security needs for the upcoming election.

HOUSE COMMITTED SUBPOENAS WHITE HOUSE EMAILS… The House Committee on Oversight and Reform has authorized a subpoena demanding records in the panel’s investigation into the White House’s alleged use of private email for government business. The panel’s 23-16 vote gives Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland the authority to issue the subpoenas, which seek emails and cellphone text messages sent to or from White House officials using their personal accounts. Cummings said the White House’s refusal to provide documents prompted the subpoena.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESUMES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT… Attorney General William Barr has directed the federal government to resume capital punishment after a nearly two-decade ban and immediately scheduled the executions of five death-row inmates. Barr’s directive paves the way for the Federal Bureau of Prisons to adopt an addendum to the Federal Execution Protocol. Pentobarbital, which has been used by 14 states in executions since 2010, will replace the three-drug procedure previously used in executions.

MARINES ARRESTED… Military officials announced yesterday that 16 Marines were arrested for their alleged involvement in human smuggling, drug-related offenses and other illegal activity. The Marines were taken into custody at Camp Pendleton in California based on information obtained during a previous human smuggling investigation. Eight other Marines were questioned for unrelated alleged drug offenses.

ENTERTAINMENTWOODSTOCK 50 FESTIVAL BACK ON… The Woodstock 50 festival appears to be a go after securing a deal to stage a show at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The agreement was reached after months-long legal and permit battles in upstate New York cast the event in doubt. The festival is scheduled for August 16 to 18. It’s not known which acts will be performing.

IN THEATERS… “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” tells the story about a faded television actor and his stunt double who seek fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star in the R-rated film.

SPORTS MLB…NL SCORES…N.Y. METS 4 – San Diego 0… Jacob deGrom pitched four-hit ball over seven innings and got help from three relievers in the Mets’ blanking of the Padres. Todd Frazier lined a two-run double and scored on Michael Conforto’s single as New York scored all four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Colorado 8 – WASHINGTON 7… Daniel Murphy homered to lead off the top of the eighth inning and drove in a tie-breaking run in the ninth with an infield grounder as the Rockies rallied past the Nationals. Ian Desmond tied the game with a lead-off homer in the ninth. Ryan McMahon singled home a run and blasted a two-run homer. Garrett Hampson also homered with a runner aboard.

AL SCORES…BOSTON 19 – N.Y. Yankees 3… The Red Sox opened with a seven-run bottom of the first inning and never looked back in their shellacking of the Yankees. Xavier Bogaerts went 4-or-6 with a pair of homers and four RBIs to lead a 23-hit attack. Rafael Devers and Sandy Leon also went deep.

Minnesota 10 – CHI. WHITE SOX 3… Nelson Cruz homered three times and drove in five runs in leading the Twins past the White Sox. Max Kepler and Miguel Sanó hit two-run homers.

Cleveland 5 – KANSAS CITY 4 (14 innings)… Jose Ramirez drilled a tie-breaking homer to lead off the top of the 14th inning and Jake Bauers added an RBI single as the Indians outlasted the Royals. Francisco Lindor homered for Cleveland.

Baltimore 10 – L.A. ANGELS 8 (16 innings)… Trey Mancini’s one-out homer in the top of the ninth inning pushed the Orioles to a come-from-behind win over the Angels. Stevie Wilkerson’s ground-rule double brought home with the tying run to cap a two-run eighth.